Alphabet

=Ideas for teaching the alphabet:=

1. **Alphabet Eye Chart:** While teaching the alphabet, have students create an eye chart (like one used by Optometrists) drawing the letters from large to small in increasing rows for homework- in a triangle format. The following class day, have students work in pairs taking turns covering one eye and reading their partner's eye chart in the target language.

2. **How do you spell that?**: Give students a skeleton dialogue where they greet one another, ask each other's names, ask for clarification of name, and then spell it out in the target language.

3. **Alphabet dictation:** Have students take turns spelling out cognates, names of target language countries, etc. Partners record the letters/words they hear.

4. **Typewriter:** (note: many of today's students are unfamiliar with how a typewriter works/worked- it may need to be explained) Give students large index cards with one letter of the target language alphabet on them. A word is called out. Students stand up and show their letter card in order to spell out the word. Separate cards may be made for accent marks, etc.

5. **Sprinkle**: Students will practice spelling out words, including the gender, if applicable. The teacher begins by choosing a vocabulary word. Then the first student begins by giving the first letter of the word. If the next student says the wrong letter, then s/he sits down. The next person gives the letter. When the word is spelled correctly the next person says "Sprinkle". If the word was not finished being spelled out, the person who said "Sprinkle" sits down. If the word was finished, then the next person sits down. The game continues until one person is left standing. S/he must finish the last word in play.